Dangers of Social Media
Social media is a genuine threat to your teen's health and livelihood. Most teens in America now spend roughly 7 hours each day communicating with friends over social media, and 1 in 4 is a heavy user of social sites. But, according to the experts, there's a lot of pressure and anxiety attached to being always connected, and the dangers of social media are ones every parent should explore. It's important to learn about the dangers of social media, and get the necessary help from a
teen substance abuse treatment center like Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center.
Emotional Dangers of Social Media for Teens
Social media can affect your teen in various ways. While it's a valid tool for technology and socialization, some teens struggle with being connected in this way. As a result, social media exposure can contribute to mental health disorders and negative feelings, such as:
When your teen's friends don't invite them to events that blow up on their timelines, it can be traumatic for you both. Additionally, social media is a breeding ground for cyberbullies who can post anything they want about their teen, and neither you nor your child has any way to remove these posts before their classmates see them. Embarrassment, humiliation, and fear are only three of the negative consequences of becoming a victim of cyberbullies on social media, and teens react in different ways when it happens. In fact, some turn their anger on unsuspecting classmates. Others try to hurt themselves.
Physical Dangers of Social Media
Roughly 3 out of every ten teens on Facebook have stalkers or receive friend requests from strangers. Adolescents are especially susceptible to online stalking because they're reluctant to hurt the feelings of a friend of a friend. Even if they don't recognize the name or profile picture, they still make the person a friend. Accordingly, this reveals a wealth of information to someone with bad intentions, including:
- Photos of the teen, their family, friends, and pets
- Places where they regularly hang out
- Places they've checked into
- Where they attend school
- Where they work
- Their hobbies, interests, and extracurricular activities
But there are other physical dangers linked to teens who overuse social media. These include sleep disruption, eyestrain, and too little physical activity. Also, teens who have a social media use disorder and mobile devices may also neglect homework and quality time spent with family.
When the Dangers of Social Media Cause Long-Term Damage or Death.
It seems every day we hear about a new dangerous challenge gaining popularity on social media. Kids eat toxic laundry detergent, knock out unsuspecting bystanders, and even set themselves on fire. Consequently, each ridiculous challenge sounds worse than the one that came before, yet many teens still find them irresistible. From dancing in traffic to drinking yourself to death, the dangers of social media challenges are out there. As a result, kids are injured or die every year from taking part. But even if your teen is smart enough to steer clear of YouTubers who encourage them to huff helium or pour boiling water on a friend, they may still get the wrong message from excessive social media use. Therefore, if your teen shows signs of depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder, social media may be partly to blame.
Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center Can Help
At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center in Oxford, MS, we treat male teens who are struggling with problems such as these. Our substance abuse treatment center sits on a serene, spacious campus away from the stress and pressure of a hectic life. Subsequently, your teen will learn the needed recovery behaviors and coping skills to sculpt out a happy and prosperous future. Equine therapy, art, music, fly-fishing, yoga, and more will add structure to your child's day and help them explore the emotions and actions that brought them to Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center.
Contact us today at
662.373.2828 for more information.
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